Alarm-signal system for telephone-exchanges.



H, H. iDE.

ALARM SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

QM w gmgm APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 29, I914.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

51/522227;- fiC-ZU H 122 5..

. alarm system operative to indicate an abnorrssreir- .ricors, i coaroas'rrorr or rumors.

SEL'NM recast-i;

liiiplicatioil filed June To all 3 'mayconccra:

Be it known that l,- Hensr H. lama. itizen of the United. States of America esid ing at La Gram; countyot Cook, and State of Illinois, useful Improves writs Alarm-Signal Sys terns for Telephone-Exchanges, following is a specification My invention relates to alarm signal systems and has to do more particularly with x n the systems or this character adapted for,

use in connection with automatic switches such as are used in automatic and SBllil filltilmatic telephone exchange systems, an object of my invention being to provide an improved signal arrangement Ior indicating an ."abnormal condition of the switch circuits or mechanism. To this end I provide an mal condition such aswhcreiri the switch is left in an abnormal condition formers than a predetermined period.

"in the/preferred "form oi? my invention 1 .utilize a thermal element which will respond only after the lapse of a predetermined time interval to operate an alarm so as to apprise the attendant that some part or nism has vbeen abnormal beyond the time limit.

I will explain niyinvention more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating one whichand v Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a line circuit and first selector arranged in accordance with my invention; *Fig. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view mechanical arrangement of the line switch, and Fig. 3, is a more or less diagrammatic View illustrating the mechanical arrange merit of the first selector.

Rcferring more particularly to l, l have shown a subscribers substatioh A havtelephoiie equipment and a which is provided the line switch B consisting of the line relay LR and the cut-off relay CG. A motor magnet M is likewise provided, all arranged as shown more in detail in Fig. '2, and including likewise the 0% normal contacts ON. The llIiB switch through the agency of thewipers i, 5, and 6 completes the circuit or line conductors 2 thropgo to the conductors Y Specification of Letters Patent.

have invented certain new of which the dimension type,

.sociate'the ar instal'ma 'i'these contacts being shown dia- .insulated contacts. along the dotted line 161, for instance, completing its entire upward movement in rethe mechaform of its application in illustrating the o'ssros.

T0 KELLOGG SR ITCHBOABD AND W31? TElflEPHQNE-EXCHANGES.

muam

Patentedct;10, 1916.

iii-1d. serial lilo. 847,828.

and 801 the first selector C. This first selec tor or course is adapted throughithe wipers 9,310, 11 to extend the circuit to a second.

' selector or' connector as the case may be, all

as is'well understood in the art. The first 0 selector and other switches as well as the connector switches may preferably be in the form illustrated in Fig. 3, being of the two that is, the type in which the bank contacts are; divided into groups, and in which a primary adjustment of the switch is eiie'cted to select a group and there after a secondary adjustment produced automatically to select a contact of' the' selected group. .To this end the selector switch has the rotating shaft-.12, the movable arm 13- and the vertically movable shaft 14-, to as- 13 carrying the wipers 9, 10, 11 "for instance with contacts 14, 15, 1 6" for .75 grammatically to represent three separate The path of the arm is .generator G, primaryuofi-normal switches l U N and the secondary off-normal switches SON, the test relay TR, all in accordance with the system disclosed in my application for automatic telephone systems, Serial No. 846,018, filed June 19th, 1914.

My improvement concerns itself particularly with the provision of the alarm signal S, which is arranged to 'operateshould an associated switc be in trouble or its parts in 10s. an abnormal condition. For this purpose,

I provide a group relay GRwhich is preferably common to a plurality of devices such as selectors G, being connected at the common point 3:? to conductors 21 extending to 101 the difi'erent associated switches G. Athev. mal element '1 is also provided and. controlled by the relay GR, said element T hava normal contact 28 and an alternate 27. @VVhen the relay GR operates it ll contact lishes a circuit through the winding of eleconnecting ground at ment Tcausing an operation thereof, providing relay GR is maintained energized for a long enough period. The continued energization of (IR is dependent upon an abnormal condition of any of the switches C, that is should a ground connection be maintained upon any of the conductors 21 for an abnor mally long tainedenergized during such period causing an operation of element T which will effect tt hfole energization of the signal relay 40 and e signal-17. Should the attendant desire to disconnect the element T for some reason, .for instance it it becomes too hot, then switch arms 37, 43 are thrown to their dotted position to disconnect element T' and connect a signal such asa buzzer 44 in circuit with relay GR so that the buzzer 44 will tempo.- rarily take the place of T and also-its con tinued operation will indicateto the attendant that the element T is disconnected.

mate present embodiment of myv invenhave shown the relay GR connected to a primary oif-normal contact 19, which contact is grounded through normal contact 20 and alternate contact 23 as soon as selector C has been seized. That is, when selector C is selected, the relay IRenergizes followed by the energization of RR, thereby alternate contact 23 of RR to the conductor 21.

when switch PON moves oii-normal and disconnects ground from the conductor 21. In ordinary practice switch 0 is operated switch 0 be stuck at normal, or a subscriber remove his/receiver to select the switch C and then fail to extend his call, the alarm signal will be operated. I

Operation: Having referred more in a general way to the embodiment of my invention as herein illustrated, -a more detailed description of its operation wil now be given. Assuming a subscriber at substation A removes his receiver to initiate a call, a circuit for line relay LR will be established from ground at wiper 5 over the calling line back through wiper 6 and LR toj battery. Relay LR therefore energizes closing its alternate contact '50 connectin ound through ON and CO to battery. e ay CO therefore energizesand motor magnet M. is connected through alternate contacts 51, 52 to ground, advancing wipers 4, 5, 6, and as long as wiper 4 is engaging grounded test contacts a locking circuit is maintained for relays LR and CO through their alternate contacts 53, 54, but as soon as wiper4 rea shes an idle or ungrounded test contact, relay CO immediately deenergizes interrupting eriod, then relay GR is main-- This condition is maintained until ,the switch 0 is operated women the circuit of magnet M and rendering the wipers inert. Relay LR being a slow relay maintains its armature attracted until a locking circuit from C is provided, but upon denergization of CO the impulse relay IR of the selected switch C is connected in bridge of the calling line and is energized followed immediately by the energization; of relay RR over a circuit traced from ground at normal contact 55 of relay TR, alternate contact 56, a winding of R3 to battery. Relay RR- therefore closes its contacts 22, 23, connecting ground 24 to con-' tact arm 18 and thus to the test conductor and Wiper 4 to relay LR, maintaining it energized. The ground connection to contact spring 180i PON from contacts 22, 23,

also follows a path through contact 19, conof the thermal element, and assuming switch C is not operated for some reason, therelay GR remains energized and current continues to flow through the winding of T. The arm 26 of T therefore begins to heat and after a predetermined period, depending upon the adjustment and construction of the device, said arm moves upward and contacts 25 and 28 are interrupted. The continued move ment of arm 26 also closes contacts 25, 27 thereby connecting relay 40 in circuit with the grounded conductor 21 causing the energization of the relay and closing its contact 41' to establish -an operating circuit for the signal 17 from generator 42. As long as the abnormally long "period of the grounded ioo condition of conductor 21 is maintained,

grouprelay GR remains energized and thus element T and relay 40, together with sigml 17 remain operated, thus indicating to the attendantthat something is wrong with one of the switches associated with the particular signal 17. Should the abnormal condition of conductor 21 be created by the subscriber keeping his receiver off e switch hook without sending a call, as soon as the receiver is replaced and the circuit of IR interrupt'edflja deenergization of RR is brought about thereby removing the abnormally grounded condition of conductor 21 so that relay 40 deenergizes and signal 17 is eifaced, indicating to the-attendant that the abnormal condition has been removed. He can thendisconnect the element T so that it may more quickly cool oii and restore to normal, by throwing the switch armsjl, 43 to their dotted position. This connects the buzzer 44 1n circuit with relay GR so that s like looldng ough the'arm 43 1s i-esioriog. Should the to again the element T in circuit Le een ziteoeil opele'ziexis of ilie buzzer l-l Will indicate SLxCll a, em.

In the czlinary operation an eueometic csctlloci' initiating a cell G will extend the cell \Q While element attendant fall selecb' 11151 i 13.1 which 6 ..p "g 5 oil-normal ice/Pilate position andlei-r 1Q, 26 Mm. 3 long 5%: There- J E has been -he switch U m s con esxthe "We will assume is pole? to an '2); the loclmm; circmi; fer GR opemtion oi is interrupteu ceasing the-restoration thereof and the inferrupticn of the circuit fii z'ough T. Of course ii. cells overlap to such ex tent that ground maintained continuously upon the commo'l': conductor 5? from see ferent connected conductors ill, then relayv GR remains looked up but wandering the greatest rush of tralic the number of switches G to an alarm eirouii S is such that v a continua groom?v will not "be maintained upon the common oomlucllor long enough to cmisc an ope 'etion of the elei'oent "l to operetelhe sigiiel li Q I Any momez ta ry break between ground. connections To coniucboli 57Iwill allow 9.

-'festora tion ofG'R and the-element is preferably soeclgosterl fillet it Wlll not close its 'alernlconlect 2? in Tespomse winter-- mittent energizelions of its winding 39, In practice I lave. foam that with an elljus'o ment of the element T so fillet its normal contact 28 will break in about a minute and a quarter fro 2 a continued energization, and a closure of alternate contact 2? response i0 about two and one half minutes continued energizeticn, a satisfactory operaoion is secured. It Will be understood though that 'these periecls may be varied according $0 the exigen'cy of tliellse to which it: is put Even during the greatest rush of 'tmflic with pl'o'pe" grouping there would be very little chance of mainfiaining a continuous ground Upon the conductor 57 due to oveilepping calls, for e sufficient period to operateelcment T to close its signal contact 27 with said element adjusted so that its said contact 2'? will not be eloseol in less than two and one half minutes.

As previously referred to group relay GR is common to a number of selectors C and this relation to some exteilt will be depend.- ent upon the firallic ccncliiions cool may be varied; as oesirecl.

1 will also be noted s the relay to this exact be epphed'ce o self-loo energized line i-o tlie groumliog of confine-tor 5'? upon initiation of a sell, and so l1. ground COZIiCllliOH be maintained until the interruption oi normal cont-eel; 28 of T b removed before lhe closure of alternate contact 2Y il'ien relay GR will restore and cannot again be energizecl to effect the thermal elemegi' T until normal contact 28 is again closed. ll' il-h. this arrangement is will is alihough gr-ounci may be eucolie l to conduclor 5'3. stem the opemtin lil conneefiicn w-i ell e well-lmown automatic s; n, l. do not iwisllitc be limifieii sclosure es 111 nvent-lee may c1 systeiiQs. x ltlloulz departing from 'ille" aim to cover-ell such cliengeseiigl modificalions as come W1 n thespirit Eil'l d SCOQQ of the appendedclaims. Q 1 7 r g v l-Li;7 ;Vi'1 9; described my invention, I What; 1 claim as new encl desiifeto seeuieby "United StetesLetzfiers .Petemiyisfi.

1, All automatic telephone tem hevinge selective: switch edepterli'oi' successive association with eplurality of contacils, oi, mechanismeclepie l to indicate an abnormal ccnelvtlon of semi swiicli bcyoncle 'gnrecleterminel length'of time said ,D'IQCllPLHlSYH mclmlmi a merino stalye n electric, circuit eontrollecl Toy the abnormal condition 01 die switch. for control-- lingillfi heating oiseid thermostat, and ing relay fol con firolling sairl circuit.

2-. An automatic telephone exchange tam. having a selective switch miepte l for successive association 'Wlel) a plurality of contacts, of alarm mechanism aclaptecl to maliceie an abnormal eenclition of said switch beyond predetermined length of siroe, serial mechanism including thermostat, an electric circuit controlle-il by the abnormal 0011 (lilion cl fiche switch for controlling; the heating of said thermostat, and e self-locking- W said cireuit said time relay for cont-rolli 4 me Cllcdll'; through semi znostat controlling relay to prevent a false signal clue to cor have, illustrated. my invention 1t thereof; and l therefore lainuons intermittent energizations of said relay. V

8a A11. alarm signal system comprising an autonmfiic swilch, group relay energized responsive to selection of said switch, a cherniel elewenfcrespensive to e proiongeci 'enof sand relay, normally closed comes element melee-2134123. the 1211- tial energizing circuit for said relay and interrupted responsive to operation of the thermal element to open the conductors of said initial energizing circuit, and a locking circuit for said relay controlled from said switch and maintained independent of said thermal contacts.

4:. An alarm signal system comprising automatic switches, a group relay common to said switches and connected thereto, means responsive to a selection of one of said switches to energize said relay, means ef fective upon the initial operation of said switch for denergizing said relay, an alarm signal,.and a signal controlling device responsive only to a predetermined period of energization of said group relayfor operating said signal.

5. An alarm system comprising an automatic switch, a relay energized responsive to the selection of said switch, electromagnetic means for operating said switch, means effective upon the initial operation of said switch to denergize said relay, an alarm signal, and means for controlling said alarm signal including said relay and a thermostat.

6. A telephone system comprising a subscribers line, an automatic switch, subscriber controlled means for connecting said line ,with said switch, a relay energized respons1ve to such connection, subscriber controlled means for operating said switch from normal to denergize said relay, an alarm signal, and a signal controlling device responsive to a prolonged energization of said relay for operating said signal.

7. A telephone system comprising subscribers lines, automatic switches, subscriber controlled means for connecting their lines with said switches, a group relay responsive to the connection of a subscribers line with one of said switches, an alarm signal, means responsive to a prolonged energization of said relay for operating said signal, and means controlled by the initial movement of said switch from normal for deenergizing said relay.

8. A telephone system comprising an automatic switch, a relay energized responsive to a selection of said switch, a signal device, a thermalelement responsive to a prolonged cnergization of said relay to operate said signal, a manual switch, and means controlled by said switch for rendering said thermal device and said alarm inoperative.

9. A telephone system comprising an automatic switch, a relay energized responsive to a selection of sai switch, a signal device, a thermal element responsive to a prolonged energization of said relay to operate said signal, a manual switch and means controlled by said switch for rendering said signal inoperative and for connecting a second signal in position to be operated immediately upon energization of said,relay.

10. An alarm system including an automatic switch, a relay provided with an energizing circuit controlled by said automatic switch, vice controlled by said relay and adapted to operate said alarm signal after a predetermined period of time, a second alarm sig-' nal adapted to be directly controlled by said relay, and a manual switch for operatively associating either of said alarm signals with said relay.

11. A telephone system including a plurality of automatic switches, a group relay an alarm signal, a slow acting decommon to said switches, means for seizing mg device controlled by said relay for operating said alarm signal, a second alarm signal controlled by said relay, and a manual switch for operatively associating either of said alarm signals with said relay.

,Signed by me at Jhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY HIIDE.

'Vitnesses: I Gnonon E. Munnmn, B. OBRmN; 

